There is more conjecture that Xbox is working on a portable game console as a result of recent comments made by CEO Phil Spencer in interviews. Regarding a possible Xbox handheld device, Spencer stated in an exclusive interview with Windows Central, “I’m traveling right now, and I have my Lenovo Legion Go with me, which is fantastic. I consider those portable computers—virtually add-ons for my Xbox system”.
This would mark a significant expansion of the Xbox ecosystem, moving beyond traditional home consoles. The device is expected to be a “fully native” handheld, meaning it would run games independently rather than relying on cloud gaming services.
The CEO of Xbox, has hinted at upcoming unique and powerful projects, which may include this handheld device. Additionally, Xbox President Sarah Bond has suggested that new hardware announcements are expected around the holiday season of 2024.
This development comes as the handheld gaming market continues to grow, driven by the success of devices like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck. Microsoft’s interest in this market aligns with these trends, aiming to cater to the increasing demand for portable gaming solutions
Spencer added “To see when I pick up a game, that my progress on the console shows up on this handheld in a native way- it’s not just cloud streaming. And I can play on the airplane and or play when I’m disconnected. I think that’s vitally important to where we’re trying to go.
“Xbox Play Anywhere has been a long term part of our strategy, though I don’t think we’ve made as much progress as maybe we could have over the years that’s been out. But as I see these handheld PCs come along, I think of things like playing anywhere, and my ability to keep my games library with me and allowing me to play those on different devices, including cloud streamed at some point. We’re looking at the ability to allow you to stream the games you own.”
In response to several questions, he hinted that the hardware might be a real handheld device, similar to the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck. As an admirer of both the older and more contemporary ROG Ally, he stated that local gaming is “really important.”
